On Covid duty, doc ‘attempts’ suicide

Sriganganagar, April 8

The police today started an investigation into alleged suicide attempt by a government doctor who was put on prolonged Covid-19 duty.

Dr Prince Bhatia (35) was taken to the Civil Hospital after he reportedly consumed some intoxicating substance at his residence on Wednesday. He was in the intensive care unit and his condition was stable, hospital sources said.

Hindumalkot police station in-charge Ram Pratap Verma said said Pankaj Verma, a clerk in the the Chief Medical Health Officer (CMHO) office, had been summoned for questioning after it was alleged he had been harassing him by threatening to issue his transfer orders.

Dr Bhatia had been serving at the Primary Health Centre, Fatuhi (Shivpur) village, near the Pakistan border, in the Hindumalkot area. Since the virus outbreak last year, he had reportedly been on deputation in the test lab at the district hospital. Later, he was told to bring Covid vaccine from Jaipur and Bikaner and distribute these to health centres in remote Rawla and Gharsana segments.

The doctor accused Verma of harassing him by ordering deputation at different places. CMHO Dr Girdhari Lal Mehrada denied harassment by his office and claimed Dr Bhatia was upset due to migraine. No case had been registered so far. — OC

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